Interchangeable letter.



G. H. REITH.

INTBRGHANGEABLE LETTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12,1913.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

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UNITED .STATES GEORGE H. REITH, OF MARION, INDIANA, .ASSIGNOPVOF ONE-HALF T0 JAMES BOYCE,`

AND ONE-HALF T0 HARRY OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, COUNTY, INDIANA.

PATEN FFICE.

INTERCHANGEABLE LETTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.-

Application filed July 12, 1913. Serial No. 778,697.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE H. REITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marion, in the county of Grant and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Interchangeable Letters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.V

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in signs and more particularly to interchangeable letters therefor, the object of the invention being to provide an interchangeable letter which is so constructed and mounted that the same may be quickly and readily inserted within a frame or removed therefrom. The device is also provided with suitable means adapted for engagement with parts of the frame so that the letter will be securely held in position after being placed in the frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide an interchangeable letter of the above character which Vwill possess advantages in points of efficiency and durability, is inexpensive of manufacture and at the same time is simple in construction and operation.

Vith the above and other objects in view, this invention consists in the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, pointed out in the claim and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front elevation illustrating my interchangeable letters arranged in a vertical frame. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of one of the letters; and Fig. 3 is an elevation of a portion of a horizontal sign. Fig. 4 is a side elevation.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, l indicates the frame in which my improved interchangeable letters are to be arranged. For the purpose of illustration, I have disclosed in Fig. l, the letters arranged in a vertical frame member and when each letter is arranged in position, the body portion of each letter is provided upon its ends and front face with the raised surface 4, constituting a plurality of alined lugs, said raised surface being arranged adjacent each end of the body and when the letters are arranged in position, the Vpivotally mounted retaining bars 5 are placed between the lugs.

The retaining bars 5 are hingedly secured at one end to one of the side edges of the frame, as shown at 5. The opposite side wall is provided with a beading at its upper edge over which is adapted to engage the spring catch member 7 formed on the bar 5, at the end opposite the hinge 5. From this it will be seen that the letters may be quickly and readily arranged between the side walls 2 and securely retained in position by means of the bars 5, said bars being adapted to be readily actuated when it is desired to remove the letters.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated the letter and its mounting in perspective. The mounting consists of the body 3 which may be of wood, metal or any other suitable material Vand having formed thereon the letter or character designated at 6. Upon the body, as disclosed in this ligure, I have illustrated the alined lugs 4, as arranged at the ends of the body. This form of the invention is preferably used in vertically disposed signs, wherein the letters are placed end to end, as clearly illustrated in Fig. l.

When it is desired to use the letters in a horizontal sign wherein the letters are to be placed side by side in the frame, they are preferably formed with the alined lugs 4 arranged adjacent the longitudinal sideedges of the body 3, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3.

-From this it will be readily apparent that I have provided a simple and durable letter and mounting therefor, whereby the same may be quickly and readily changed in the frame and will be securely held in position to prevent accidental removal thereof. It will also be seen that by providing the lugs upon the ends and longitudinal edges of the body and by having the spacing bars arranged therebetween, they will prevent any lateral movement of the letters when in position. It will also be obvious from the foregoing that my device is extremely simple in construction and can be manufactured and placed upon the market at a comparatively low cost.

l/Vhile I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, it will be obvious that various changes in the details of construction and in the proportions may be resorted to for successfully carrying my invention into practice, without sacri cing F. ANDERSON, OF GRANT any of the novel features or departing from the edges thereof, of retaining bars adapted 10 the scope of the invention, as dened by the to be arranged between rows of lugs upon appended claim. adjacent body members.

What I claim is f In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiiX my The combination with a plurality of body` signature in the presence of two witnesses. members adapted to be arranged in alinel GEORGE H'. REITH. ment each having a character formed upon Witnesses:

one face thereof, and rows of spaced lugs ALBERT Gr. AJLMAN,

formed on each member adjacent certain of RAYMOND F. HANCOCK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 4 

